Thailand - Diary
		Introduction Thailand, for us, was split into three distinct parts: (1) Southern Thailand (2) Bangkok & Pattaya and (3) Chiang Mai 1. Southern Thailand Life got a bit trickier here: - Thai script was used instead of our beloved alphabet and little English spoken - a phrase book was one of our first purchases.  The cycling was much of the same however: flat, well made roads, and  hot, sunny weather.  Distances between the towns were longer than we would have liked. Twice we cycled more than 70 miles in a day.  The scenery was pretty dull - lack of variety and wildlife! Notable Incidents - Had been in Thailand less than one hour when a police motorcyclist came alongside and demanded we stop and pull over. "Uh Oh. What now?" Some sign language and a walkie-talkie chat to his mate revealed all.  Said mate arrived with a camera - they wanted a snap shot  with the cycling tourists! Welcome to Thailand!! - Meals on the road were generally at small road-side stalls. Selection was made by poking around in the various pots or choosing the least inedible looking dish!!  Whilst Caroline was tucking into something fishy tasting, the owner of the cafe (small shack) had used the Thai phrasebook and found the name and English translation for what Caroline was eating:- Freshwater eel!!  (Somehow it didn't taste as good after that!) - Turned up at one hotel to find that an "English camp" was being held for local schoolchildren to help with their English speaking.  Dave joined an ex-pat guy from Manchester with some teaching. (The girl who knew Sheffield Wednesday got a gold star!). Caroline bumped into a fellow female cyclist from Holland, Willie, who was heading in the opposite direction, so we exchanged route notes.  We also has our first experience with some very pretty ladyboys, who were serving the drinks!!
			2.Civilization ??
			After cycling for 5 weeks since leaving Singapore and covering 1000 miles we were knackered! So, at Chumpon, we decided to hop on a train up the rest of the coast to Bangkok.  4 hours later, travelling 3rd class for 1.13 (pound) each, we arrived in Hua Hin and got our first taste of "reverse culture shock".  Neon signs (in English!), Pizza Hut, tourists galore,  etc, etc..We had arrived in touristville. At the sight of a "proper" coffee shop we dived in, ordered tea and a cafe latte with normal (as opposed to "condensed") milk, proper sandwiches, cakes and read  recent copies of The Sun and Cosmopolitan - FANTASTIC!!!! We even managed to bump into a Dutch couple (Hugo and Angelique) and the 18 month old baby (Julian), whom we had met further south when we were still cycling, so we spent a couple of evening catching up and enjoying the chat. (Julian has not quite recovered from his holiday in Thailand. His parents have told us that since returning home, everything on four legs is called a monkey!) After a few days R & R we got back on the train to Bangkok and then cycled warily out into the notorious traffic!!Only after a while did we start to realise that despite the 100's of thousands of people on the roads in the city - it appeared we were the only two on bikes!!! Only once, when the traffic lights changed as Caroline was only half way accross a junction and five lanes of traffic came towards her, were tears close by!! A definate highlight for us was the arrival in Bangkok of one of Dave's friends, Bill from Bordeaux, who has the not unpleasant job of selling French wine into South East Asia and was officially on business.
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